Assessments, taxes and growth issues dominate the two races.
Samantha Verrelli
Sam graduated from Penn State with degrees in journalism and Spanish. She was an investigative reporter for The Daily Collegian at Penn State and a freelance reporter with PennLive. She’s from outside Philadelphia, and loves hiking, live music and finding new restaurants.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: Mayor Joe Cobb to propose a strategic plan to address homelessness
Roanoke has seen increased numbers of homelessness after the pandemic. Mayor Joe Cobb hopes to put together a task force to come up with new solutions.
Posted inRedbird
How local police are using LPR surveillance cameras
Nearly 25% of LPR searches from one police department’s audit used “Other” as the reason to access data from over 10,000 cameras.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke County: Board of supervisors to adopt budget on second vote
The plan totals about $272 million, which is an increase of almost $12 million from the previous fiscal year.
Posted inCulture
3 new bike trails are a highlight of recreation project on Roanoke’s Mill Mountain
The expansion builds on the city’s 2018 designation as a noted mountain biking destination.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Roanoke: City council to consider 3% raises for city employees
Public hearings will cover a tax on blighted and derelict property, as well as an appropriation to the schools for capital projects. The council will also receive a presentation with updates from Envision Williamson Road and updates to the Parks and Recreation Master Plan.
Posted inLocal
Roanoke City Council adopts new budget, with a 1% meals tax increase and level school funding
In a contentious budget season, the city chose to make a number of cuts but also plans to give city employees a 3% pay increase.
Posted inLocal
Agenda Salem: City council to consider first adoption of FY26 budget after a public hearing
The proposed FY26 budget includes a 2-cent decrease in the real estate tax rate.
Posted inLocal
Roanoke to consider new tax on blighted and derelict properties
State code allows the city to impose a 5% increase on blighted properties and a 10% increase on derelict properties, and the city could take properties that have been vacant for five years.
Posted inEducation
Roanoke considers upending years of school funding history amid tough budget talks
The city manager has proposed a flat budget for the school division and has said the city needs to take over the division’s fund balance.
